Send an email using only JavaScript

No server-side languages involved.

I recently ran into the need of sending an email without any server-side technology. Luckily, this is a piece of cake with the awesome Mandrill App. (Disclaimer: I know nothing about Mandrill except for the fact that the first 12,000 emails per month are free.)

Here’s the skinny:

1. register for Mandrill to get an API key
2. load jQuery
3. use $.ajax to send an email

Step 1: Get an API key

Sign up for Mandrill. When you’re done, click on Get API Keys:

Select Get API Keys

On the next screen, press +Add API Key and copy your key:

Copy your API key

Step 2: Load jQuery

If you don’t use jQuery, write your own AJAX call or use whatever library you prefer.

<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js"></script>

Step 3: Use the $.ajax function to send an email

Make sure you’re using POST to submit your data.

$.ajax({
  type: “POST”,
  url: “https://mandrillapp.com/api/1.0/messages/send.json”,
  data: {
    ‘key’: ‘YOUR API KEY HERE’,
    ‘message’: {
      ‘from_email’: ‘YOUR@EMAIL.HERE’,
      ‘to’: [
          {
            ‘email’: ‘RECIPIENT_NO_1@EMAIL.HERE’,
            ‘name’: ‘RECIPIENT NAME (OPTIONAL)’,
            ‘type’: ‘to’
          },
          {
            ‘email’: ‘RECIPIENT_NO_2@EMAIL.HERE’,
            ‘name’: ‘ANOTHER RECIPIENT NAME (OPTIONAL)’,
            ‘type’: ‘to’
          }
        ],
      ‘autotext’: ‘true’,
      ‘subject’: ‘YOUR SUBJECT HERE!’,
      ‘html’: ‘YOUR EMAIL CONTENT HERE! YOU CAN USE HTML!’
    }
  }
 }).done(function(response) {
   console.log(response); // if you're into that sorta thing
 });

Here is a list of all the parameters Messages API supports:

https://mandrillapp.com/api/docs/messages.html

Optional: Send email with the click of a button

You can run the code above with the click of a button:

$('#yourButtonId').click(function() {
  $.ajax({
    // ...
  });
});

That’s it! You can now send email using only JavaScript!

Note: Keep in mind that your API key is visible to anyone, so any malicious user may use your key to send out emails that can eat up your quota.